England fast bowler Mark Wood will miss the remainder of 2024 due to a bone-stress injury in his right elbow. Wood was set to play pivotal roles in England's upcoming tours of Pakistan and New Zealand. However, an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announcement confirmed that the 34-year-old will be sidelined for the rest of the year. This decision follows a series of injuries that have plagued his recent performances.

Injury diagnosis and impact on current season

The ECB revealed that Wood had experienced increasing stiffness and discomfort in his elbow during England’s two-match Test series against the West Indies. Wood also played in the first Test against Sri Lanka, where he sustained a right thigh injury. Although he is recovering well from the thigh issue, the bone-stress injury in his elbow is significant enough to end his year early.

In an Instagram post, Wood shared his shock upon learning the severity of his elbow condition. "I thought it was a routine check for a previously troublesome elbow," he wrote. "To discover bone stress in my right elbow was a surprise. After dealing with a minor groin injury and noticing irritation in my elbow, I decided to get it examined. I attributed the discomfort to the usual issues fast bowlers face."

Despite his disappointment, Wood remains optimistic about his recovery. He expressed confidence in returning to full fitness early next year, saying, "I will miss the rest of the year to rest and rebuild, but I fully expect to be back and firing in early 2025. I have been down this road before and will work hard to come back stronger."

England's adjustments and future tours

With Wood out, England will rely on other bowlers for their upcoming tours. Olly Stone took Wood’s place in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, while 20-year-old left-arm seamer Josh Hull made his debut in The Oval Test. England’s tours of Pakistan and New Zealand will proceed as planned, but Wood’s absence leaves a significant gap in the bowling attack.

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England’s tour of Pakistan in October includes three Tests, followed by a series in New Zealand in December. The team will need to adjust their strategy without Wood, who has been a key player in their bowling lineup.

Wood's injury is a setback for England, but his determination to return to top form offers hope for the future. As he takes time to recover, fans and teammates alike will eagerly anticipate his return to international cricket.

Star West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph caused a big scene at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Day 3 of the second Test against England. During the 107th over, Joseph took on England’s young fast bowler Gus Atkinson and hit two powerful shots that were crucial for his team.

Joseph first pulled a delivery from Atkinson over deep mid wicket for a six, then smashed another ball over deep backward square leg for another huge six. The second shot was so well timed that it sailed into the stands and hit the roof of one of the boxes, causing tiles to fall on the crowd below. Fortunately, no fans were injured.

Watch Shamar Joseph’s incredible six

Joseph scored a quick 33 off 27 balls, including five fours and two sixes. He partnered with Joshua Da Silva for the tenth wicket adding 71 runs off 78 balls. Their stand frustrated England as they easily scored against a tired bowling attack.

Their partnership ended just before lunch when Joseph hit a delivery from Mark Wood straight to Gus Atkinson at mid on. Da Silva was left not out on 82, missing a well deserved century as he walked back to the pavilion.

England claims early breakthroughs on day 3

West Indies started their innings at 351/5 with Jason Holder and Joshua Da Silva. England struck early when Chris Woakes caught Holder’s edge and Jamie Smith took the catch. Kevin Sinclair followed but was out after scoring 4, caught by Harry Brook.

Woakes continued his good work by dismissing Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales with back-to-back deliveries. West Indies was all out for 457, taking a narrow lead of 41 runs.

On Friday, July 19, Mark Wood made a dramatic entrance into England’s Test team during the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge.

Wood, who wasn’t part of the squad for the first Test as he was given time to recover from the T20 World Cup, was finally brought into the team for this match. With James Anderson retiring, Wood was added straight into the playing XI. He made an impressive comeback, with every ball of his first over clocking well above 90 mph.

Woakes and Atkinson started the bowling for England, covering the first nine overs before captain Ben Stokes brought Wood in. Though he didn’t take a wicket in his first over, he made a strong impression.

Wood Sets New Record for Fastest Over by an England Bowler

In that over, Wood’s six deliveries were all over 92 mph, including one at 96.5 mph. By the end of the over, he had set a new record for the fastest over by an England bowler at home. But Wood didn’t stop there he went on to bowl an even faster third over, with all deliveries over 93 mph and one reaching 97 mph.

As for the match, the West Indies got off to a solid start with openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis putting on 53 runs for the first wicket. Shoaib Bashir broke their stand by dismissing Louis for 21. At the time of writing, the West Indies were 74 for 1 in response to England’s first innings total of 416.

ECB announces the addition of Mark Wood to their squad for the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge. This move comes in the wake of Jimmy Anderson’s retirement, opening up a crucial spot in England’s bowling lineup. As England looks to secure a series win, Wood’s inclusion brings both excitement and strategic advantage to the team.

Jimmy Anderson’s retirement

The retirement of Jimmy Anderson, one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history, marks the end of an era for England. Anderson’s departure leaves a significant void in the team, both in terms of skill and experience. His remarkable career, spanning over two decades, saw him become the highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers in Test cricket, leaving behind a legacy that will inspire generations.

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The Second test at Trent Bridge

The second Test at Trent Bridge holds immense importance for England as they aim to clinch the series against the West Indies. With Anderson’s retirement, England’s bowling lineup for the second Test features a mix of seasoned campaigners and promising talents.

The competition for the vacant seamer spot includes Mark Wood, Matt Potts, and Dillon Pennington, each bringing unique strengths to the table.

Mark Wood’s recent form

Mark Wood’s recent form has been impressive, showcasing his ability to bowl at high speeds consistently. His performances in the recent series have demonstrated his match-winning potential, making him a strong contender for the seamer spot.

Matt Potts, Wood’s county teammate, and Dillon Pennington from Nottinghamshire are also vying for the seamer spot. Potts has shown considerable promise with his ability to swing the ball both ways, while Pennington, though uncapped, has been in stellar form at the county level.

Gus Atkinson’s debut performance

Gus Atkinson’s debut in the opening Test was nothing short of spectacular, taking 12 wickets and making an indelible mark. Given his performance, Atkinson is likely to retain his place, providing a formidable option in England’s bowling arsenal. His ability to generate pace and movement will be vital in the upcoming match.

England’s spin option

Shoaib Bashir, the spinner in the squad, had a quiet first Test where he did not get an opportunity to bowl. The success of England’s seam attack at Lord’s raises questions about the need for a spinner in the second Test. However, Bashir’s role cannot be discounted, especially if the pitch offers turn or if the conditions change.

West Indies’ performance in first test

The West Indies faced a heavy defeat in the first Test, losing by an innings and 114 runs. Despite the loss, they have several key players who could pose a challenge to England. The team’s performance in the second Test will be critical as they look to bounce back and keep the series alive.

England men’s Test squad:

Ben Stokes (Durham, c), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Dan Lawrence (Surrey), Dillon Pennington (Nottinghamshire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

Test Series Versus West Indies

1st Test: England v West Indies, 10-14 July 2024, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London – England won by an innings and 114 runs

2nd Test: England v West Indies, 18-22 July 2024, Trent Bridge, Nottingham

3rd Test: England v West Indies, 26-30 July 2024, Edgbaston, Birmingham

World’s most expensive franchise cricket, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, is all set to begin on 22nd March 2024. This league has a special place in the hearts of cricket fans as well as cricketing players. Every year, the tournament sees top players from around the globe showcasing their skills in intense and thrilling matches. However, injuries, personal reasons, and other factors sometimes lead to players exiting the tournament. Here’s the list of major players who are already out of IPL 2024:

Mohammed Shami (Gujarat Titans):

Star India’s pacer underwent successful surgery for a right heel problem last month in London, which he suffered during the ODI World Cup 2023. He was the leading wicket-taker in the previous edition of the ODI World Cup, picking 24 wickets in just seven matches. But now, he won’t be available for the IPL 2024. In the last of the IPL, Shami bagged 28 wickets in 17 games at an economy rate of 8.03. For GT, this will be a major void, and they have yet to announce a replacement for him.

Prasidh Krishna (Rajasthan Royals):

Prasidh is the second Indian Pacer in this list to be ruled out of IPL 2024 after undergoing surgery on his left proximal quadriceps tendon in February. Now, he won’t feature for the Royals for the second consecutive time in the IPL. He played the last match in the Ranji Trophy for Karnataka against Gujarat in January 2024. Rajasthan Royals have yet to announce his. Krishna has played 51 matches and took 49 wickets, with an average of 34.76. In the IPL Auction 2024, the Rajasthan franchise acquired him for the whooping price of Rs 10.00 Cr.

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Mark Wood (Lucknow Super Giants):

The Premium English pacer, who is known for his lethal deliveries, was pulled out by his cricket board from the upcoming IPL season to manage his workload. ECB and Wood were concerned about the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, and that’s why Wood pulled his name from the league. Lucknow Franchise bought him for Rs. 7.5 crore in IPL 2022 auction but he missed the entire tournament due to an elbow injury. But in IPL 2023, Wood showcased his premium bowling skills by taking a fifer in the first game. However, he was featured in just 4 games and picked 11 wickets. LSG named Shamar Joseph “the hero of Gabba Test” as Wood’s replacement for the upcoming season of IPL for Rs. 3 crore.

Jason Roy (Kolkata Knight Riders):

Jason Roy, a destructive top-order batter who can change the time for his team, has pulled out of the IPL due to personal reasons. This is not the first time Roy has pulled out his name from IPL for personal reasons; previously, in 2020 and 2022, he also pulled out from the entire tournament. In the last season, he played 8 games for KKR, and in all matches, he gave a good start for the franchise with a strike rate of 151.60. KKR announced Phil Salt as his replacement. Another hard-hitting English top-order batter who went unsold in the IPL auction 2024, but his impressive performance against West Indies in a T20I series marked his place in IPL 2024.

Harry Brook (Delhi Capitals):

Young English stalwart Harry Brook decided not to play in the IPL 2024 due to some family problems after the death of his grandmother. In the IPL 2024 auction, Brook was acquired by Delhi Capitals for Rs. 4 crore. In IPL 2023, Sunrisers Hyderabad brought him for the whooping price of 13.25 crores, but he wasn’t able to leave a lasting impression and could only manage to score 190 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 123.38. Delhi has yet to announce his replacement.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the lineup for the last Test in the ongoing series against India. With just one alteration from the previous match, where they endured a defeat in Ranchi, England seeks redemption in the fifth Test commencing at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Thursday, March 7.

Mark Wood steps in for Ollie Robinson, while James Anderson retains his spot despite featuring in three consecutive Tests, merely two wickets away from the coveted 700 mark.

Battling for Redemption in Dharamsala Amidst Series Defeat

Robinson’s lackluster performance in Ranchi saw him exit the XI, despite his notable contribution with the bat alongside Joe Root. The official statement from England Men confirmed the change, asserting the team’s readiness for the final showdown.

England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson, and Shoaib Bashir.

Ben Stokes, the England captain, accentuated the positives gleaned from their tour despite the series loss, highlighting significant improvements in fitness and overall performance.

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England’s journey in India saw debutants Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley showcasing promising bowling displays, with Hartley’s seven-wicket haul in the series opener being particularly notable. Despite such individual efforts, England’s quest for victory remains unfulfilled, conceding the series 3-1 to the hosts.

Wood has been in the UK recovering from a hip injury sustained during England’s successful T20 World Cup campaign and will join up with the Test squad in Rawalpindi this weekend. Though the injury ruled the 32-year-old out of the semi-final against India, he was considered fit to play in the final against Pakistan before it was decided not to take a risk with selection for such a high-profile match.

His rehabilitation is said to be tracking well. However, with just three training days ahead of the start of the series on December 1. It seems unlikely he will be able to accrue the necessary number of overs at a high enough intensity to prepare himself for the rigors of a Test match. Wood returned to international duty in Pakistan during the T20Is after missing the 2022 summer. Showed how crucial his pace was as a point of difference. With six wickets at 7.33 in his two appearances in the seven-match series.

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England fast bowler Mark Wood is a doubt for the first Test against Pakistan.

He carried that form into the World Cup, with nine wickets at 12.00 in four matches. Bowling the fastest spells and even walking away with the fastest delivery of the tournament. A full delivery at 154.74kph to New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips. Wood’s absence from the Abu Dhabi leg of this winter, where the squad has been warming up alongside England Lions ahead of their first Test series in Pakistan for 17 years, is unrelated to his injury.

Both he and Yorkshire batter Harry Brook were given two weeks at home after the World Cup to rest as they were the only two players in all three first-team squads (Pakistan T20Is, World Cup, Pakistan Tests) before the end of the year. Speaking on Friday after the final day of England’s warm-up match, which was swapped for a two-hour training session. England captain Ben Stokes was optimistic on Wood’s fitness and said there will be no cover drafted into the squad.

“No, we’re sticking with it,” said Stokes. “We’re not going to call up another seamer to this group. “We took the decision to let Brooky and Woody spend that time at home, obviously being at Pakistan and the World Cup,” Stokes said. “We felt a week at home for them would be more beneficial, just to get their batteries recharged. Obviously with Woody’s injury, getting home and being around his wife. Child would be better than being out here and getting all his rehab, which he could do at home.

Alex Hales made a statement with a rapid 84, while quicks Mark Wood and Sam Curran thwarted Australia’s bold chase as England stepped up their T20 World Cup preparations with a tight eight-run victory in the series opener in Perth. In a record 132-run opening partnership for England against Australia, Hales and the returning Jos Buttler flattened a weakened attack to power the tourists to a huge total.

An aggressive Australia, who had dropped Steven Smith, were on pace with David Warner making his second consecutive half-century. England held their nerve through quality death bowling from Wood and Curran. It was a return of international cricket in Perth since the women’s T20 World Cup in February 2020 after an easing of strict Covid-19 measures. The final two games of the series will be played in Canberra starting on Wednesday.

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England wins against Australia and gets nice boost at the start of this series

Against a second-string Australia attack on a fast Optus Stadium pitch, a golden opportunity loomed for Buttler and Hales, who had been given the nod ahead of Phil Salt. Buttler demonstrated his fitness from a nagging calf injury with a blistering assault in the opening over, smashing four boundaries off Cameron Green whose first international match on his home ground started disastrously.

In all-out attack mode, Buttler was at his brilliant best with a slew of destructive shots all around the wicket, including consecutive outrageous scoops in the fifth over against exasperated quick Kane Richardson. Hales started slowly, by comparison, before finding his range as the pair smashed 58 runs in the powerplay. There was no lull immediately after with Buttler launching legspinner Mitchell Swepson for consecutive sixes. They notched a century stand within nine overs before Buttler finally fell in the 12th over to Nathan Ellis.

Hales then took over in similar fashion to his dominance in the BBL to almost surely cement a spot in England’s T20 World Cup line-up. Resting their frontline attack for the sole match of the series in Perth, Australia were perhaps on a hiding to nothing. Captain Aaron Finch had hoped to take advantage of the overcast conditions and smattering of grass, but his inexperienced attack mostly copped a flogging. Green particularly struggled with a slew of half volleys and his confidence spiralled when he bowled a beamer in the 13th over.

England is starting a new season with a lot of new faces around. They have a new manager, a new coach, and a new captain. With all the new personnel around though, England is going back to their two best pacers, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who was dropped in the West Indies. While both pacers are returning, England continues to have another concern. Almost all the pacers they tried in the last few months are struggling with injury, and their recovery periods are still uncertain.

Mark Wood

Mark Wood went into the Ashes as England’s only express pace bowler. He is the latest of England’s fast men to succumb to an injury, and despite having his workload looked after a little better than the other bowlers, Mark Wood has struggled with a slightly severe injury. His injury started of as an elbow niggle, similar to Jofra Archer, but has now led to surgery. The surgery has gone through successfully but Mark Wood’s recovery may take time, leaving him out of the upcoming Test series. He may not play test cricket at all for a while as England have a lot of white-ball assignments for which they would want him to be fit.

Jofra Archer

Jofra Archer’s injury was one that could be brought down due to a heavy workload. He came into the English team as hot property with his pace and unique run-up, but couldn’t handle the pressure of Test cricket, having to carry the burden of an express pacer on his own. There were other options, but Jofra Archer’s talent made him an indispensable part of the side in all formats, and a must-have bowler on the flight to Australia last year.

Jofra Archer’s body could not handle the workload, and he has undergone two elbow surgeries last year. He was ruled out for an year and is slowly making his way back to Cricket after a long break from the game.

Ollie Robinson

With Anderson and Broad aging, Ollie Robinson is seen as the future of the English pace attack. His height and bounce give him a strong advantage, but Robinson has struggled with fitness issues since the Hobart Test last year. He is struggling with his body in the ongoing County season and has resorted to spells of off-spin. With issues to the hamstring and shoulder haunting him, the selectors have decided to not bring him back to the Test side just yet.

Chris Woakes

A factor behind the dropping of James Anderson and Stuart Broad was to allow Chris Woakes to take some leadership in the bowling attack. His numbers overseas though are unimpressive and despite playing all three of the Caribbean Tests, Chris Woakes struggled. He is still an integral part of the bowling attack at home, but an injury to him now leaves England short of a senior pacer who is strong at home.

Saqib Mahmood

England’s latest 90 MPH superstar started his career well in the Caribbean. He displayed a lot of potential but his progress has now been frustratingly cut short. He is now nursing a stress fracture and will be out for the rest of the County season, rendering him unavailable for any Cricket this summer.

Matthew Fisher

Matthew Fisher made his debut along with Saqib Mahmood and showed strong signs with his bowling up front. He can handle the new ball nicely and would have been a walk-in to the England squad. However, Matthew Fisher has a back injury of his own, leading him to miss the New Zealand series coming up.

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Sam Curran

Sam Curran was an integral part of the Test side a few months ago. His all-round skills, swing bowling and aggressive batting make him a valuable asset in all three formats of the game. With a lot of cricket behind him though, the workload finally hit Sam Curran as he also attained a stress fracture to his back. The injury ruled him out of the T20 World Cup, Ashes and the IPL. He is now slowly making his way back, but his workload is nowhere near enough to bring him back for the New Zealand Tests. With the World Cup coming up, England may not want to risk Sam Curran as well, with the World Cup coming up.

Olly Stone

Olly Stone was another pacer who England had hope on in Australia. He bowls at a high pace, is tall and seemed perfect for Australian conditions. An injury though changed the situation for him as Olly Stone was ruled out for an indefinite period and is yet to make a comeback.

England is on the brink of another Ashes defeat. They last made contact with the urn back in 2015, and haven’t won a Test since the 2010-2011 Ashes. Going by form, and potential, England look like they will continue to remain winless. They have some nice names in the squad, but very few have performed. The batting, in the first to games, depended too much on Joe Root, and Dawid Malan, while the bowling remains hit and miss. With England in a must-win situation, they could bring in some changes ahead at Melbourne.

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Zak Crawley in for Haseeb Hameed

Haseeb Hameed’s technique was good for the India tour back in 2016, when he made his debut, but the technique that worked then is failing him now. Playing with low hands, Hameed struggles against the balls that bounce higher. While Rory Burns has been under greater scrutiny, Hameed’s technique puts him further under the scanner. Rory Burns himself hasn’t looked comfortable at all, with a first-ball duck at Brisbane set the tone for England.

Burns though will likely get another chance, while Zak Crawley steps in for Haseeb Hameed. At 6’5”, Crawley’s height will make him feel less uncomfortable against the bounce. He is a free-flowing batter, with a nice range of strokes, which may help England set the tone early in the innings. Zak Crawley has a career-best of 267, but his form has also been an issue over the last year, which makes the opening puzzle all the more difficult.

Jonny Bairstow in for Ollie Pope

Ollie Pope is a batter with loads of potential, and a nice technique, but his batting hasn’t been good enough so far. With a long career ahead of him, England may want to give Pope some time off before he loses confidence, after a tough series. His approach has been a little puzzling as Pope didn’t look to comfortable against the likes of Starc or Lyon during his brief visits to the crease.

With very few options in the squad, England will have to go back to Jonny Bairstow yet again. Bairstow has been in and out of the side, and has struggled through the year in the longer format. He was in top-form back in 2016, and did a decent job at Australia on their last visit, but Bairstow struggled to kick off from a few good seasons. He is second on the list of ducks this year among England batters.

Chris Woakes out, Mark Wood in

Mark Wood was in great touch in the first Test, reaching a high pace and using the Australian conditions nicely. Being the only express pace bowler in the England squad, and one with injury issues, England was wary of overworking him, and rested him at Adelaide. His pace has put the likes of David Warner in some discomfort, and after a game off, Wood could be back at Melbourne.

England initially planned to have a wide range of express pace options for the Ashes. They groomed Jofra Archer, and Olly Stone only to see both suffering injuries, ending their Ashes hunt. Injuries to them left Mark Wood as the only bowler who could reach high speeds.

With Wood returning, Woakes seems the most likely to go out. He hasn’t been at his best, and is still struggling to crack the code on Australian pitches. He is in the firing line among the Australian batters, leaving Woakes in some trouble. His batting has been good, and it’s fair to say that he has been their best batter after Root, and Malan, but his batting alone may not be enough to keep him in the side.